France took the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League bronze medals after beating Germany 2–0 in the third-place play-off at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. This was the first time the Finals hosts had suffered back-to-back losses since 2023.

Nick Woltemade and Karim Adeyemi forced saves from Mike Maignan, while Lucas Digne crucially blocked a Niclas Füllkrug effort with his head. Germany had five shots in the first six minutes.

France weathered the early storm, though their only effort of note before the half-hour mark was a Loic Bade header from a corner that forced Marc-André ter Stegen to stretch every sinew to deny him.

Adeyemi then latched onto a ball over the top before hitting the deck as he attempted to round Maignan. Referee Ivan Kruzliak initially awarded Germany a penalty, but overturned his decision following a lengthy VAR check and booked Adeyemi for diving.

Right on half-time, Germany were left cursing their luck as France took the lead against the run of play. Aurélien Tchouaméni’s cross was controlled by Kylian Mbappé, who cut inside and guided his shot past Marc-André ter Stegen and into the net.

Mbappé nearly repeated the trick a minute into the second half, but this time his shot hit the side netting.

This miss briefly looked crucial seven minutes later when Deniz Undav slotted home an apparent equaliser, only for it to be disallowed following a VAR check. Fullkrug had been judged to have fouled Adrien Rabiot in the build-up.

France came close to rubbing salt in the wounds, with Marcus Thuram’s shot hitting the upright after good work from Randal Kolo Muani.

Les Bleus had lost the previous two meetings, and only Ter Stegen's fingertips denying Thuram and a Mbappé volley in the last 20 minutes prevented them from ending that run.

Didier Deschamps’ side finally wrapped things up six minutes from time as Mbappé raced clear of the tired defence, drew the goalkeeper and squared for Michael Olise to tap into an empty net.

France added bronze to the Nations League gold medals they won in 2020/21, while Germany have yet to win any silverware in the competition.